HR issues are a hot topic in state legislatures

With Congress focused on election-year politics, keep an eye on your state for potential changes to employment laws, says the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Some issues on tap:

Background checks: Last year, five states enacted laws restricting employers’ use of credit reports in the hiring process. More will tackle the issue in 2012.

Paid sick leave: Look for other states to follow the lead of Connecticut, which now requires employers to provide paid sick leave to eligible employees.

Mandatory E-Verify: In the wake of a Supreme Court ruling, more states may require employers to use the electronic E-Verify work authorization system.

Workplace bullying: New state legislation could hold employers liable if they fail to address examples of bullying in the workplace. Other bills would make it unlawful to discriminate against workers who are victims of domestic abuse.

The best or worst type of bullying comes not from individuals but institutions. They use guilt, compare you too colleagues and constantly infere that it is part of your job to work longer harder and for free.

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